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Provost’s perspective after 30 days
WSU must be a leader in knowledge economy
Change, a small word, but one with such great impact. It is much easier to be an advocate for change than to actually do it. Now my wife, Wendy, and I find our lives and work undergoing rapid change. With my coming to Washington State University as provost and academic vice president, we have new challenges and also many opportunities to expand our horizons as we work with you, the university community. Unlike those who react to change with uncertainty and fear, I find it keeps life exciting!

At WSU we use the slogan "World Class. Face to Face." It is fair to say that we are a world-class university. However, not all of our programs and support areas are full participants. WSU programs throughout the state have made considerable progress over the past decade. Still, I feel that we must accelerate our rate of change to engage and participate fully in the knowledge economy. To be a truly outstanding university, we must position ourselves to be cutting-edge in all three of the land-grant missions — teaching, research and service. We want to lead in the creation of new knowledge and its applications.

News Briefs 

• Women’s basketball coach released
• Horse-care conference slated for March 16-17
• Scholarships available for study in Germany
• Nomination deadline for library award
• Senate looking for faculty to fill vacancies
• Gilman international scholarships announced
• Technology forum eyes wireless access
• Rotary scholarships announced for 2003–04

A heart turns home
WSU architecture professor Rafi Samizay helps plan rebuilding of Afghanistan
In his office, thousands of miles away from Afghanistan, Rafi Samizay pulls out a black-and-white photograph of a section of the city of Kabul in the 1970s. The adobe homes and ancient buildings from the old portion of the town stretch out to the edge of the horizon, filling the photograph.

Sukanta Bose, associate professor of physics 
and astronomy, and graduate teaching assistant 
Karen Roberts, prepare for upcoming grand 
reopening of Jewett Observatory. 
(Photo by Bob Hubner, WSU Photo Services.)

Observatory reopened
Astronomy revitalized

Once again, the sky is the limit, or at least the destination, as Washington State University celebrates the revival of its astronomy program and the reopening of Jewett Observatory.

The WSU astronomy program, which flourished in earlier decades, was challenged in the 1990s when instructor Tom Lutz died, and his wife, Julie, the second main astronomy professor, moved to Seattle. The mathematics department, which has administered the program since its inception, tried to keep it alive for several years but saw it flatline in spring 2000 when its sole associate professor left for another university. Due to lack of budgetary resources, the mathematics department could not hire sufficient faculty and repair the observatory.

Realizing the importance of the program, the physics department requested that astronomy be moved under its direction, similar to astronomy programs at most universities in the United States. "Astronomy and physics go hand in hand," noted Miles Dresser, professor emeritus in physics.

Hiring, purchases
Freeze on; economy warming
By Robert Frank, WSU Today

Adjustments and plans are currently being made campuswide at Washington State University in response to Gov. Gary Locke’s Feb. 21 announcement of a statewide hiring and spending freeze. Locke’s actions are designed to help offset the state’s looming $1.6 billion revenue deficit, and prepare the way for further actions to be implemented by the Legislature.

On the positive side, however, hints of an eventual thawing trend appeared several days later when traditional nationwide indicators revealed signs of an improving economy. The speed and momentum of this trend, if it continues at its current rate, unfortunately will be too slow to avert the current state revenue shortfall. (Related story page 8.)

In his initial announcement, Locke stated, "A worsening state revenue outlook requires immediate action to freeze hiring, travel and equipment purchases. We are now looking at a deficit of more than $1.6 billion in the 2001 – 03 biennial budget as a result of a lower revenue forecast and higher forecasts for public school enrollment, social service caseloads, juvenile rehabilitation and prison populations."

Campuswide, home inoculation
Antivirus protection required 
on computers

The president’s Cabinet has approved a policy requiring antivirus software on all computers connected to the Washington State University network.

WSU has purchased a universitywide license for Symantec’s Norton Anti-Virus for all university computers and home computers of faculty, staff and graduate students. With some minor exceptions, the software will be distributed at no cost during the initial two years of the license.

The Norton Anti-Virus site license covers Windows (all versions), Novell, MacOS, and IBM 0S2. Norton Anti-Virus for Email Gateways and for Microsoft Exchange also will be available.

Aaron Morris, social sciences senior, 
gives insights to potential freshman.
(Photo by Bob Hubner, WSU Photo Services.) 

Student-to-student encouragement
Telecounselers ‘reach out 
and touch someone’
Forget Lily Tomlin’s "Ernestine," the snork-laughing phone operator ("one ringie-dingie…two ringie-dingies"). WSU students who work in the Office of Admission’s Telecounseling Center are personable and "in touch" with the prospective students on the other end of the line.

Leon Radziemski

New horizons, Big Sky
WSU loses Radziemski, Rimpau
Looking for the challenge and excitement of embarking on a third career, Leon Radziemski, dean of the College of Sciences, has decided to leave WSU for a position with Research Corporation, a nonprofit foundation. Radziemski discovered Research, which funds scientists and science programs, two years ago while on sabbatical. He spent his sabbatical conducting a survey and interpreting the data for the organization. Doug Baker, vice provost for academic affairs, said Radziemski was effective and successful, "a leader among deans."

Foundation news
Sheridan, Dryfoos heading west
Greg Sheridan, senior vice president of the WSU Foundation, and Walter Dryfoos, executive director for Advancement Services and Annual Giving and vice president of the WSU Foundation, are heading west for Husky country.

Sheridan is the new associate vice president for constituency programs at the University of Washington. He will be working on a campaign to raise $2 billion.

Sheridan served WSU from February 1994 until March 2002. He worked on the steering committee for the successful $275 million drive. WSU was able to increase scholarships and endowments over three-fold, the number of endowed chairs and professorships went from 10 to over 100, and graduate fellowships were established. The past two years have been some of the highest years of cash inventory for WSU.

Economic upswing?
Based on reports from the U.S. Commerce Department, "The Chicago Tribune" recently reported:

The U.S. economy, propelled by the biggest surge in consumer spending on big-ticket goods in 15 years, grew at an annual rate of 1.4 percent in the final quarter of 2001, the government reported today.

The latest snapshot of the economy’s health, as measured by the gross domestic product (GDP), suggests that the recession, which began in March (last year), has probably ended and may turn out to be the country’s mildest downturn ever, analysts said.